As promised we continue our list of top 10 priorities this offseason for the Miami Heat. If you missed part one, you can find it here.
6. Consider Re-Signing Luol Deng
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After a mediocre 2014-15 season with Miami, Luol Deng really came on in 2015-16. He proved his worth as an elite defender and timely scorer, particularly in the second half of the season after Chris Bosh went out with blood clots. He finished the season averaging 12.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game and helped carry Miami through the first round of the playoffs against the Charlotte Hornets, to boot.
Now that he is entering free agency, Miami must mull over their options when it comes to Deng. Not much has come out of the Heat camp regarding their stance on Deng, but chances are, they would like to have a player of his caliber back in a Heat uniform. It may be tough to appease his contract needs as he is still an above-average player who can probably land a decent contract on another team.
However, right now, there are too many priorities that rank higher than re-signing Deng to a deal he’d be comfortable with. Time will tell how this situation plays out but the chances of re-signing him may be slim.
Next: Figure out the Chris Bosh Situation
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7. Figure out the Chris Bosh Situation
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This is a tough one. Since the 2015-16 playoffs began, Bosh maintained that he was healthy enough to return to the court for Miami, but the team had his overall health in mind and kept him from coming back. Bosh is the highest paid player on the team and still has three years and roughly $75 million left on his contract and you better believe Miami is hoping and praying he can fulfill expectations.
He is slated to begin the 2016-17 season fully healthy, but many experts believe Bosh should hang up his sneakers and retire now before he puts himself at further risk. Former NBA player Bo Kimble is one of those people. In an interview with TMZ last month, he expressed his deep concerns for Bosh’s health:
“There are so many other things he could do with his life,” Kimble said. “Hank Gathers had the same thing. Hank could have been a comedian, an actor or did speaking engagements. It’s not worth the risk. I would just say absolutely not, don’t do it.”
While the concerns for Bosh’s health are understandable, Bosh wants nothing else but to return to the Heat and compete at the highest level possible. If Bosh can retain his position as the focal point of the team next season, and do so without missing extended time, the Heat will be granted the opportunity to assess their team identity as well as their plans for the future. Banking on Bosh is easily amongst the top priorities for Miami entering next season and for years to come.
Next: Groom Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson
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8. Groom Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson
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This past season, rookies Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson bursted onto the scene and played pivotal roles down the stretch of Miami’s playoff run. They each brought their own set of value and skills to the table, with Richardson emerging as a three-point specialist and Winslow establishing himself as an elite defender and high-efficiency role player.
As both players enter their second season with the team, the Heat must find a way to groom them into becoming more well-rounded pieces for the team. With Winslow’s ability as a defender and a quality stretch forward and Richardson’s sharp-shooting skills, both young players can and likely will play much larger roles moving forward. It’s up to the coaching staff and the veterans of the team to help these guys hone their skills and morph into the players that they are fully capable of becoming.
Next: Bring in Three-Point Specialists
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9. Bring in Three-Point Specialists
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Today’s NBA has evolved into an entirely different beast. Nowadays, the team that can knock down the long ball at the highest rate tends to go further. We may have the Golden State Warriors to thank for this. That’s just the way the game is played today.
The Heat, meanwhile, have struggled to knock down three-point shots since Ray Allen and Mike Miller left town. In 2015-16, Miami ranked 27th out of 30 NBA teams in three-pointers made. The Heat do not have a pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, so they must acquire three-point specialists through free agency or perhaps via trade.
The team can’t rely on Dwyane Wade to hit a slew of uncharacteristic threes as he did in the team’s playoff run this season. They must bring in guys who can score from beyond the arc and do so consistently. A guy like Harrison Barnes, who will enter the offseason as a restricted free agent, could be the perfect fit on a Miami team that struggles to knock down the long ball. Perhaps Miami could look into getting a deal done with him or look into another player or two that can provide timely three-point shots.
Next: Reach out to LeBron James
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10. Reach out to LeBron James
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Though it seems like the longest of long shots, LeBron James becomes a free agent at the end of the 2015-16 season and you can bet the Heat will at least consider reaching out to “The King.” If James loses in the NBA Finals once again, he may be sorely reminded of how good he had it down in South Beach once upon a time. The former MVP has recently expressed sincere interest in re-joining forces with former teammate and best buddy D-Wade.
“I really hope that, before our career is over, we can all play together. At least one, maybe one or two seasons – me, Melo, D-Wade, CP… I would actually take a pay cut to do that,” said James in an interview with Bleacher Report.
Chances are, James won’t be leaving Cleveland any time soon, as he has vowed to do everything in his power to bring a title to “The Land.” However, James has been known to be unpredictable in the past and a move back to Miami would certainly serve to shake things up in the NBA yet again. If he truly is willing to take a pay cut to play with Wade once again, Riley and company would surely have to consider the possibility of getting in a room with James.
The Heat have a lot of work to do before the 2016-17 season begins. The good thing for Miami fans is that this franchise has built a culture of winning ways over the years and has proven time and time again that they will do everything short of the impossible to put the best team on the floor at all times. If Miami can take care of these 10 key priorities before next season begins, we may, yet again, be looking at a true championship contender in the Eastern Conference.
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